Mechanical properties of polyethersulfone modified epoxy/3,3'-bis (maleimidophenyl)phenylphosphine oxide (BMI) intercrosslinked matrices

Novel intercrosslinked networks of polyethersulfone modified epoxy-3,3'-bis(maleimidophenyl) phenylphosphine oxide matrix systems are developed. The polyethersulfone modification of epoxy resin is carried out by using tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide (TMAH) as a catalyst. The polyethersulfone modified epoxy systems are further modified with 4-12% 3,3'-bis(maleimidophenyl) phenylphosphine oxide and cured by using diaminodiphenylmethane. Tensile, flexural, impact properties and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) are carried out to assess the mechanical behaviour of the prepared neat resin castings. Mechanical studies indicate that the introduction of polyethersulfone into these epoxy resins improves the toughness without any reduction in the stress-strain values. But, the incorporation of bismaleimide (BMI) into the epoxy resin improves the stress-strain properties with a lowering of the toughness. The introduction of both polyethersulfone and bismaleimide into the epoxy resin influences the mechanical properties according to their content percentages.